Macron's plan to copy Westminster using prime ministers faces harsh criticism

Gabriel Attal (left), France's youngest prime minister in history, has been touted as a potential presidential candidate when Emmanuel Macron steps down in 2027 year. Photo: LUDOVIK MARIN/AFP via Getty Images

Emmanuel Macron is trying to emulate the Westminster Prime Minister's Questions, which opponents say is intended to raise the profile of his new government leader.

The French parliament is currently holding two sessions of “questions to the government”, at which deputies ask questions to ministers, who answer depending on the dossier.

From April 3, Parliament will test drive a different format for five weeks, during which 34 According to Le Monde, three-year-old Gabriel Attal, France's youngest prime minister in history, will answer 10 questions from each group in the National Assembly once every week in a format «inspired by the United Kingdom's House of Commons.» The newspaper quoted a source close to Yael Brown-Piva, the speaker of parliament, as saying the shake-up was intended to «increase interest» in obscure issues at the government meeting .

The French parliament currently has two “questions for the government”: sessions in which deputies question ministers, who answer depending on the dossier . Photo: EMMANUELLE DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Attal, a talented speaker and debater, has reportedly been tasked with being the de facto counter to Jordan Bardella, the far-right National Rally candidate for the European Parliament whose party is leading in the polls.

Mr. Attal, who was previously education minister, has also been touted as a potential contender for the presidency when Mr Macron steps down in 2027 after two consecutive terms, the maximum in France.

Opposition groups have criticized the changes , and left-wing parties and the Greens said they seemed designed specifically to raise his profile.

Cyrielle Chatelain, president of the Green group, said: «I'm afraid this will come to an end.» It's a kind of Attal show.»

Jean-Jacques Urvoas, a former Socialist justice minister and now a law professor at the University of Brest, warned: «This system puts the prime minister at the center of attention.» and destroys ministers.”

Mr. Attal is a talented speaker and debater. Photo: EMMANUELLE DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Macron's center and centre-right allies also expressed reservations.

Jean-Paul Mattei, president of the centrist Modem party The group said it reflected a «very vertical vision» of power and «limited the ability of members of parliament to ask questions ministers,» who are often better equipped to answer technical questions.

«Even if he is brilliant, Gabriel Attal won «I won't be able to answer everything,» Mr. Mattei said.

Criticism of the new questioning also came from within Mr Macron's own party, with Marc Ferracci, vice-president of the Renaissance group, saying: «I'm not sure the role of the prime minister is to answer the most technical questions.» .

Sylvain Maillard, president of the Renaissance group, added: “The idea is for this to be a very political session. If deputies use it to ask purely technical questions, it will be of no use.”

The final format of the new version of questions for government meetings should be determined in early July.